Peter Short

Life Story of Peter Short
Born November 17th 1946 Passed away August 9th 2014

Hard Shell Soft Center

Born in North London just after World War II, his early years, like so many, were in shared housing because of the bombing. Moving, as a young boy to Cheshunt in Hertfordshire when his family was chosen to go to one of the many housing estates put up all around London to help with the overcrowding.
Despite suffering a crippling hip disease as a child and spending a year in a hospital, he went on as a teenager to break school records in javelin and other field sports. He went for trials to play professional rugby in Hull, but instead decided to join the Royal Military Police; graduating as top recruit. This is when we met, he 17 and myself 16 the year we both left the same school. He was always the protector and had the strength to go with it.
His first post was to Berlin, serving to guard the Berlin Wall and at Checkpoint Charlie along with regular police duties. His second posting was Singapore, and by this time we were married and I had joined him at his posts. We returned to the UK in 1969 and he trained for the London Metropolitan Police. At this time, our son Lee was born.
In 1980 we moved to Sandy Bedfordshire, where things changed for him, getting his chance of a lifetime to travel the world with a family owned printing equipment company, who are our friends to this day. In 1986 we moved to Grand Haven, Michigan, USA where he continued to work with the same people until 1998. We had so many experiences and made many friends. After all our children's marriages we moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in 2003, where Peter worked then as Security Supervisor at Larimer Country Court House until he retired in 2011.

From Lee:
I loved my Dad! He was (is) my Dad, my friend and the reason I am who I am today. Some might think was stubborn, fierce and intimidating; he was on the outside but a complete marshmallow on the inside.
I remember as clear as if it were just yesterday breaking down on the way back from a vacation. We had a blue Datsun Sunny, not the greatest car, Dad dared my brother and I to walk a 100 yards to a lamppost, it was pitch black, Dean and I were about 7 & 8 so of course we took the dare! Dad hid in the bushes about half way back and jumped out at us, scared the poop right out of us; I've not been scared of the dark ever since. That car was a piece of junk.
Family vacations were always interesting, cars hanging over cliffs, granddads knocked out on the beach or in propane fires. Dad loved these holidays, even if they were eventful. We went to Malta one year and Dad had gone snorkeling in a small bay, he had just disappeared around the corner, I had not until that day seen anyone walk on water. Imagine a 250lb anchor traveling across the water like a torpedo, which was Dad lifted slightly out of the water a bit like a motorboat just flipper powered. He came out of the water like Godzilla powering towards the land all because of a little jellyfish that had bobbed against his goggles to say hi!
Cribbage has been a family tradition every Christmas and it always will be. His last game was against one of his grandsons, a 1-hole game; brilliant. From Great Grandad to Dad, to Son and then to Grandson the tradition will continue in loving memory of my Dad.

From Dean:
One thing I think of when looking back on my Dad's life is his passion for getting the family together and seeing the pleasure he would get out of having everyone around. I'll never forget him driving 24 hours straight through in a RV to get our family from Michigan to Florida for a vacation!
He taught me the value of hard work through such actions as staying up all night to finish a tiling job in a bathroom that Lee and I shared. Although he would not accept the credit for it, his work ethic is what got our family to America and paved the way for Lee, Lynsey and I to flourish.
Soccer of course was a major connection for Dad and me from a young age and throughout our lives. I always looked for him in the stands at games and played a little harder when he was there. I will miss suffering through future Tottenham Hotspur's seasons with him.

From Lynsey:
I have fond memories of holidays and parties where Dad was always the life of the party. I will remember his very giving nature and how he loved to see others joy in receiving gifts and surprises. Our children were lucky to have their "Grandy" close and have many good memories of silly and fun times, special birthdays and Christmas's. The boys loved having tea at Nan and Grandy's because he loaded it with sugar for them. They had a little saying together, "You can't rush a good cup of tea"! Dad always played games with us on Christmas morning so that we had to wait to open presents. For example, he would light a fire, take a shower, take forever getting ready and generally stall the morning until we all went nuts with anticipation! James, Lynsey's husband, will forever be influenced by Pete's ability to live life in the moment and be spontaneous. There is so much more we could say and we will remember Dad forever as he lives within us and our children.

50 years of love, laughter, anger, tears, frustration, disappointment, achievement, excitement, humor, fun and surprise. Peter could always surprise with impulsive decisions, spur of the moment trips, and unexpected treats, which is why I have always loved him and always will. A journey of ups and downs, and all around the world with three wonderful children and now their exceptional spouses, giving us six beautiful grandchildren; all different and all unique.
Peter was a truly generous man, impossible to be with at times and incredibly loved.

Pete the ultimate box of chocolates, you never knew what you were going to get will be missed so much! ~Hazel Rosemary Short August 2014.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the following child cancer organizations:

childrenscancer.org
alexslemonade.org



A Celebration of Life Service is scheduled for 3:30 pm on September 19, 2014 at the Foothills Unitarian Church in Fort Collins.